parasites pretreated with bLf at 1000μg/ml caused 100% mortality of inoculated mice
within 9 days post challenge. In contrast, four of five mice inoculated with the same dose
of parasites pretreated with Lfcin at 1000μg/ml survived for more than 30 days post
challenge. In the case of parasites pretreated with Lfcin at 100μg/ml, one of five mice
survived up to 30 days post challenge. In conclusion, this Lfcin peptide derived from bLf
could be used against human toxoplasmosis. To study the effector pathway ofToxoplasma
growth inhibitory activity induced by bLf in murine macrophage, the role of reactive
oxygen intermediates (O^2 −) and inorganic nitric oxide (NO) was examined by Tanaka et al.
[150]. Production of O^2 −was diminished in cultures of macrophages supplemented with bLf
and the effect was dose and time dependent. Production of NO was enhanced in cultures of
peritoneal macrophages supplemented with interferon-gamma, but not with bLf. Their
findings suggested that thisToxoplasmagrowth-inhibitory activity induced by bLf in mac-
rophages is not mediated by O^2 −or NO molecules; it may be mediated by an L-arginine-
dependent effector pathway that does not involve NO production. The same group of work
[151] administered orally or intraperitoneally bLfcin (5 and 0.1 mg/mouse, respectively).
Afterward, the researchers challenged mice with cysts ofT. gondiiat a dose of LD90.
Although only a small number of mice were used, both administration routes of Lfcin
prevented the death in the 100% mice.
Lf also has shown antimicrobial properties in its nanoformulation using alginate chitosan
calcium phosphate bLf nanocapsules (AEC-CCo-CP-bLf-NCs). Anand et al. [152] analyzed
and compared the effect of bLf in its native as well as nanoformulation AEC-CCo-CP-bLf-NC
against coccidian parasiteT. gondii. The J7741 macrophage cell line culture model showed a
significant increase in NO production and low parasitemia. In theirin vivoBALB/c mice model,
after treatment with NCs substantially increased the bioavailability of the protein and showed
comparatively increased levels of reactive oxygen species, NO production, and Th1 cytokine
which helped in parasite clearance. Regarding to the mechanism of action of NCs, immunore-
activity analysis showed accumulation of Lf in macrophages of various visceral organs, which
are the site of parasite multiplication.4.6. Helminths
Antipathogenic properties of camel milk have been investigated to substitute for drugs hence
overcome drug resistance. Recently, Alimi et al. [153] investigated the antihelminthic activity
of the chemical compounds of camel milk.In vitro,the antihelminthic effects of camel milk
againstHaemonchus contortus(nematode) from sheep were ascertained by egg hatching and
worm motility inhibition, in comparison to milks from cow, ewe, and goat, and to the reference
drug albendazole. Chemical compounds revealed that camel milk has higher contents of
protective protein Lf and vitamin C than other species’milk; for example, the camel milk
contains sevenfold more Lf than the cow milk. Camel milk showed ovicidal activity at all
tested concentrations and completely inhibited egg hatching at concentrations close to 100
mg/ml (IC50 = 42.39 mg/ml). Also, camel milk revealedin vitroactivity against adult parasites
in terms of the paralysis and/or death of the worms at different hours post-treatment. After 8 h
of exposure, camel milk induced 100% mortality at the highest tested concentration. In168 Natural Remedies in the Fight Against Parasites